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PUBLISHED: 4:36 PM on Wednesday, August 22, 2007

Alaskan Brewing Company launches initiative for a healthy Western coast

In 2006, poor water quality led to more than 25,000 beach closures or advisories throughout the country, 28 percent more than the previous year. Alaskan Brewing Co. wants to help reverse this alarming trend and is committing 1 percent of proceeds from its newly released Alaskan IPA to improve the health of the Pacific Ocean and coastlines in an initiative called the Coastal Clean Oceans Depend on Everyone.

This initiative has launched www.CoastalCODE.org, which provides insights on ocean preservation; information on volunteer opportunities; ways to donate to the fund; and information about how to apply for Coastal CODE grants for such activities as beach cleanups, water quality improvement and ocean conservation education.

"Big problems like ocean pollution can feel overwhelming, but if each of us does something small, together we can make a big difference," said Marcy Larson, co-founder of Alaskan Brewing Co. in Juneau, Alaska. "We're happy to do our part through the Coastal CODE and participating in beach cleanups. We chose ocean preservation because the ocean is such an important resource to us all."

The small craft brewery is involving others, calling on ocean-minded organizations to help create the Coastal CODE, which began by surveying more than 500 Pacific Northwesterners about the Pacific Ocean. Nearly 100 percent of respondents said they are concerned about the health of the world's oceans and more than 50 percent think the condition of the Pacific Ocean and western coastline is poor or at-risk.

The encouraging news is that 98.4 percent said they are willing to make at least one change to help improve the ocean.

In support of the Coastal CODE, Portland artist Spencer Reynolds donated his time and talent to illustrate the CODE's message. His artwork was printed onto surfboards made from eco-friendly material called "Biofoam." These limited-edition surfboards will be auctioned to raise money for the Coastal CODE Fund.

"This CODE has the potential to spread awareness of our ocean's needs to people who care about this precious resource," said Mark J. Spalding, president of The Ocean Foundation, a nonprofit group housing and advising the Coastal CODE Fund. "It's refreshing to see a company take responsibility for the environment. The fact that the Coastal CODE initiative is so creative, fun and engaging is very exciting. This kind of leadership can help turn the tide in ocean conservation."

Alaskan Brewing Co. has been making award-winning beer in since 1986. The Alaskan Brew Crew bottles the character of the Last Frontier with historic recipes, local ingredients and glacier-fed water. In addition to IPA, Alaskan Brewing handcrafts Amber, Pale, ESB, Stout, Smoked Porter, Winter Ale and Summer Ale. Go online to www.alaskanbeer.com.